[fletch]

I eat a lot of spinach and would like to grow some. Is "perpetual" spinach seeds the same as the stuff you buy in shops?

[Lynne]

Perpetual spinach is not 'true' spinach, but is still good. I grow both perpetual and normal spinach (the sort you get in supermarkets). The variety I use of the latter is Hector.

[brucesgirl]

I don't like normal spinach but love perpetual spinach (or is it because I grew it myself?)

 :?

[paintedlady]

or is it because I grew it myself?

  most likely

[Aunt Sally]

Perpetual spinach or "beet spinach" is actually a relative of the beetroot and not a spinach at all. It is cut and come again and is easier to grow than true spinach.  Muntjac recommends all chook keepers to grow it for there birds to eat.

[fletch]

So what is "true" spinach then?  

[compostqueen]

see "spinach" in the seed catalogue for all the different varieties. Sounds daft but there are so many, and to be sown at various times to give you spinach all year round. The perpet. spinach is hardy.  Mine is growing away nicely on the plot now and I've been eating it for months.  Bordeaux spinach can be sown in Sept to give leaves in Spring

I grow spinach Matador which is a quick growing one, giving loads of lovely green delish leaves for salads, or the bigger leaves for cooking

World's yer oyster spinach wise  

[SnooziSuzi]

Perpetual spinach or "beet spinach" is actually a relative of the beetroot and not a spinach at all. It is cut and come again and is easier to grow than true spinach.  Muntjac recommends all chook keepers to grow it for there birds to eat.

What does it do for the chooks, Aunty?

[Aunt Sally]

Perpetual spinach or "beet spinach" is actually a relative of the beetroot and not a spinach at all. It is cut and come again and is easier to grow than true spinach.  Muntjac recommends all chook keepers to grow it for there birds to eat.

What does it do for the chooks, Aunty?

All chooks should be given some greens every day Suzi.  Contains lots of vitamins and minerals and calcium.  It makes their egg yolks a lovely golden orange too.  Perpetual spinage is prefect for them  

[Trillium]

And regular spinach is more of a cool season crop - early spring and later fall. It's not nice in summer and quickly bolts (goes to seed).

[Annie]

perpetual spinach can be grown all year,I make one sowing in aug/Sept which I have been cutting through winter,some small leaves for salads but the occasional full hair cut for lasagne,dhal or risotto.It will keep going strong until may with regular picking.I will sow more in April for cutting when the present crop needs to be dug out to make way for the next rotation.The `real` spinach i grow is bordeaux,I plant in spring and get a small crop before it bolts(hope over experience!).Last year I planted at the same time as the autumn perpetual spinach and sheltered between that and some chard under net(saves a lot of washing as it does not get splashed by rain)and that has been cropping really well for the last month.